|
Chichen Itza, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
During a recent trip to Cancun:
This is the throne room at Chichen Itza--where royalty would watch a
game that would result in the WINNING team's captain's sacrifice!
At least that is the story our guide told us! The game was
similar to modern day soccer, with a basketball twist to it.
Played without the hands, the players would use their knees,
heads and hips to shoot a ball over 20 feet into the air, through a
vertical hoop the size of a basketball! These tournaments were
considered sacred and the losing team's captain would have to cut the
head of the WINNING team's captain--because HE was worthy to be
sacrificed to the gods! (Talk about throwing a game!)
Amazingly
accurate for their time, the Mayans also built astrological
observatories that they used for predicting good or bad crop seasons,
the best time for sacrifices and other daily activities.
Area 51 & 1/2 Copyright 2006
Site Design by Dotcomp
|
